Garment retaining apparatus

ABSTRACT

A garment retaining apparatus comprises an elastic strap member having a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion, a pair of first end members attached to the first end portion by means of a D-ring, a second end member attached to the second end portion by means of a strap adjuster, a cross strap member inserted over the elastic strap member, and a plurality of detachable hose grips attached to the pair of the first end members and the second end member. The elastic strap member along with the cross strap member is secured around the leg of a wearer and the pair of first end members and the second end member is attached to a garment in different positions by the plurality of detachable hose grips allowing the garment to be secured in a desired position to obtain a neat appearance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This embodiment relates to garment retaining apparatuses, and moreparticularly to a garment retaining apparatus with an adjustable elasticstrap for retaining the garment in the desired position to enable thewearer to maintain a neat appearance, as well as enhance the safety ofthe wearer around machines.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

For neat appearance and for safety around equipment which can catchloose garments, the tails of upper garments, such as shirts and blouses,are conventionally tucked into the lower garment of a wearer. However,moderate activity such as raising of the arms or sitting and standingfrequently pulls the shirttails from a fully tucked-in position andoften shirttails become completely untucked. Thus, there is a need foran apparatus which will retain the tails of a shirt, blouse or otherupper garment in a tucked-in position.

Various kinds of garment retaining devices are available in the markettoday. Such devices generally take the form of straps or bands wornaround the waist or crotch of the wearer. However, such devices passunder the crotch area and can be uncomfortable for the wearer. This lackof soft material is an undesirable feature of the prior art devicesconsidering the sensitive nature of the crotch area. Moreover, theredoes not seem to be a provision for adjusting the lengths of the strapsbeyond the inherent elasticity of the straps. Such a limitation isundesirable in view of the fact that people come in all shapes andsizes, and the inherent elasticity of elastic straps may not be enoughto accommodate many different shapes and sizes of users.

Different styles of shirt retaining devices are available which includeindividual four strand and stirrup styles which are readily available asaccessories sold at military exchanges, outposts or retail facilities.The accessories have clip ends which consist of a rubber male lead andfemale wire receptacle clevis which are designed to fasten togetherwhile grasping, clamping and securing a piece of the garment in placebetween the fasteners. The disadvantage of these devices is that theyare not suitable for firm and prolonged attachment during moderate orexcessive activity of the wearer as the clip ends can easily becomeloose or unattached.

In some existing garment retaining devices, a central elastomeric web,having concave sides to accommodate an individual's groin area, includesthe central web to provide a plurality of tether webs extendinglongitudinally beyond the central web, with each tether web including alatch fastener for securing it to a perimeter portion of an individual'sshirt in use. Some other existing garment retaining devices provide ashirttail retaining harness comprising a pair of elongated straps, ameans for connecting the straps to a garment and, a connecting memberwhich retains a portion of the straps in spaced relation. The shirttailretaining harness is adapted so that, in use, the straps pass along theinside of the thighs of the wearer in the crotch area and diverge atboth ends for attachment to a shirttail. Some other existing garmentretaining devices provide an elastic hipband to be worn around the hips,elastic front and rear flaps secured to the hipband and convergingdownwardly to fit the crotch of the wearer. Upstanding tabs are spacedaround the hipband to secure the lower portion of a shirt to the tabs.However, in such devices the elements pass under the crotch area whichbecomes uncomfortable for the user.

Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus that would retain a garmentin the desired position to provide safety for the user and a neatappearance that does not impinge on the crotch area of the wearer. Sucha needed apparatus would be comfortable to wear and allow for the easymovement of the person wearing the garment. Further, the apparatus wouldbe adjustable, lightweight, as well as simple and economical tomanufacture. Such a needed apparatus would accommodate users withdifferent shapes and sizes and would be easy to secure and remove.Finally, the apparatus would be able to be secured to a garment withoutdamaging it. The present disclosure accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present embodiment is a garment retaining apparatus that retains agarment in a desired position to provide a neat appearance. The garmentretaining apparatus comprises an elastic strap member having a first endportion, a middle portion and a second end portion. A pair of first endmembers is attached to the first end portion of the elastic strap memberby means of a D-ring. A second end member is attached to the second endportion of the elastic strap member by means of a strap adjuster. Across strap member is inserted over the elastic strap member and aplurality of detachable hose grips attached to the pair of the first endmembers and the second end member for connection with the garment. Theelastic strap member may be adjusted in length using the strap adjuster.The cross strap member is movable along the length of the elastic strapmember according to the convenience of the wearer.

The garment retaining apparatus is intended to be worn under the pantsof a wearer and retains the tails of a shirt, blouse or other uppergarment in a tucked-in position in such a way that it does not impingeon the crotch area of the wearer. The elastic strap member along withthe cross strap member is secured around the leg of a wearer and thepair of first end members and the second end member is attached to agarment in different positions by the plurality of detachable hose gripsallowing the garment to be secured in a desired position to obtain aneat appearance without damaging the garment.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garment retaining apparatus having anelastic strap member and a cross strap member in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the garment retaining apparatus with thecross strap member removed from the elastic strap member in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the garment retaining apparatus with thecross strap member connecting a first end portion and a second endportion of the elastic strap member in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate the garment retaining apparatus in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following describes example embodiments in which the presentinvention may be practiced. This invention, however, may be embodied inmany different ways, and the description provided herein should not beconstrued as limiting in any way. Among other things, the followinginvention may be embodied as methods or devices. The following detaileddescriptions should not be taken in a limiting sense.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term“or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or,” such that “A or B”includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwiseindicated. Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documentsreferred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In theevent of inconsistent usages between this document and those documentsso incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s)should be considered supplementary to that of this document; forirreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garment retaining apparatus 10 havingan elastic strap member 12 and a cross strap member 14 in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The garmentretaining apparatus 10 comprises the elastic strap member 12 having afirst end portion 16, a middle portion 18 and a second end portion 20and the cross strap member 14 having a pair of loops 22 on opposingends. The elastic strap member 12 is inserted through at least one ofthe pair of loops 22 of the cross strap member 14. The cross strapmember 14 is movable in the upward and downward direction along thelength of the elastic strap member 12.

Turning to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the garment retaining apparatus10 with the cross strap member 14 removed from the elastic strap member12 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated. The garment retaining apparatus 10 further comprises apair of first end members 24 attached to the first end portion 16 of theelastic strap member 12 by means of a D-ring 26. A second end member 28is attached to the second end portion 20 of the elastic strap member 12by means of a strap adjuster 30. A plurality of detachable hose grips 32is attached to the pair of the first end members 24 and the second endmember 28 for connection with a garment 34 (See FIG. 4). The elasticstrap member 12 may be adjusted in length using the strap adjuster 30.The second end portion 210 of the elastic strap member 12 is pulledthrough the strap adjuster 30 until desired length is obtained.

FIG. 3 is a perspective vie of the garment retaining apparatus 10 withthe cross strap member 14 connecting the first end portion 16 and thesecond end portion 20 of the elastic strap member 12 in accordance withthe preferred embodiment of the present invention. The elastic strapmember 12 is inserted through the pair of loops 22 of the cross strapmember 14 to firm a U-shape as shown in figure. The cross strap member14 is movable along the length of the elastic strap member 12 accordingto the convenience of the wearer.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate the garment retaining apparatus 10 in use. Thegarment 34 may be a shirt, blouse or any other upper garment that needsto be tucked inside a lower garment such as pants. The garment retainingapparatus 10 is intended to be worn under the pants of a wearer andretains the tails of a shirt, blouse or other upper garment 34 in atucked-in position. The elastic strap member 12 along with the crossstrap member 14 is secured around a leg 36 of the wearer as shown inFIG. 4. The middle portion 18 of the elastic strap member 12 is placedunderneath a foot 38 of the wearer. The cross strap member 14 is movedalong the length of the elastic strap member 12 to be placed below aknee 40 of the wearer.

One of the pair of first end members 24 is attached to a front portionof the garment 34 and the other of the pair of first end members 24 isattached to a back portion of the garment 34 by the plurality ofdetachable hose grips 32. The second end member 28 is attached to a sideportion of the garment 34 by the plurality of detachable hose grips 32.The garment 34 is thus secured to the leg 36 of the wearer in a desiredposition to obtain a neat appearance. The pair of first end members 24and the second end member 28 pulls the bottom of the garment 34 back tothe original position in the pants while the wearer is standing, sittingor bending. The cross strap member 26 which can be moved in upward anddownward direction along the elastic strap member 12 while attached tothe legs 36 allows the garment retaining apparatus 10 to hold tightly tothe legs 36 of the wearer.

The garment retaining apparatus 10 of the present embodiment provides aneat appearance that does not impinge on the crotch area of the wearer.The garment retaining apparatus 10 also allow easy movement of a personwearing the garment 34. Further, the garment retaining apparatus 10 iscapable of accommodating users with different shapes and sizes and iseasy to attach and remove. Moreover, the garment retaining apparatus 10does not cause any damage to the garment 34.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except asby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment retaining apparatus comprising: anelastic strap member having a first end portion, a middle portion and asecond end portion; a pair of first end members attached to the firstend portion of the elastic strap member by means of a D-ring; a secondend member attached to the second end portion of the elastic strapmember by means of a strap adjuster; a cross strap member inserted overthe elastic strap member; and a plurality of detachable hose gripsattached to the pair of first end members and the second end member;whereby the elastic strap member along with the cross strap member beingsecured around a leg of a wearer and the pair of first end members andthe second end member being attached to a garment in different positionsby the plurality of detachable hose grips allowing the garment to besecured in a desired position to obtain a neat appearance.
 2. Thegarment retaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cross strap memberconnects the first end portion and the second end portion of the elasticstrap member so that the apparatus forms a U-shape.
 3. The garmentretaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cross strap member is movablealong the length of the elastic strap member.
 4. The garment retainingapparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic strap member may be adjusted inlength by means of the strap adjuster.
 5. The garment retainingapparatus of claim 1 wherein the middle portion of the elastic strapmember is placed underneath a foot of the wearer.
 6. The garmentretaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cross strap member is placedalong the elastic strap member below a knee of the wearer.
 7. Thegarment retaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of the pair of firstend members is attached to a front portion of the garment and the otherof the pair of first end members is attached to a back portion of thegarment by the plurality of detachable hose grips.
 8. The garmentretaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end member is attachedto a side portion of the garment by the plurality of detachable hosegrips.
 9. The garment retaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein the garmentmay be selected from a group consisting of shirt and blouse.
 10. Agarment retaining apparatus comprising: an elastic strap member having afirst end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion; a D-ringattached to the first end portion of the elastic strap member; a pair offirst end members attached to the D-ring; a strap adjuster movablyattached to the elastic strap member for adjusting length of the elasticstrap member; a second end member attached to the second end portion ofthe elastic strap member; a cross strap member inserted over the elasticstrap member for connecting the first end portion and the second endportion of the elastic strap member forming a U-shape; and a pluralityof detachable hose grips attached to the pair of the first end membersand the second end member; whereby the elastic strap member along withthe cross strap member being secured around the leg of a wearer and thepair of first end members and the second end member being attached to agarment in different positions by the plurality of detachable hose gripsallowing the garment to be secured in a desired position to obtain aneat appearance.
 11. The garment retaining apparatus of claim 10 whereinthe middle portion of the elastic strap member is placed underneath afoot of the wearer.
 12. The garment retaining apparatus of claim 10wherein the cross strap member is movable along the length of theelastic strap member.
 13. The garment retaining apparatus of claim 10wherein the cross strap member is placed along the elastic strap memberbelow a knee of the wearer.
 14. The garment retaining apparatus of claim10 wherein one of the pair of first end members is attached to a frontportion of the garment and the other of the pair of first end members isattached to a back portion of the garment.
 15. The garment retainingapparatus of claim 10 wherein the second end member is attached to aside portion of the garment.
 16. A garment retaining apparatuscomprising: an elastic strap member having a first end portion, a middleportion and a second end portion; a D-ring attached to the first endportion of the elastic strap member; a pair of first end membersattached to the D-ring; a strap adjuster movably attached to the secondend portion of the elastic strap member for adjusting length of theelastic strap member; a second end member attached to the strapadjuster; a cross strap member inserted over the elastic strap memberfor connecting the first end portion and the second end portion of theelastic strap member forming a U-shape; and a plurality of detachablehose grips attached to the pair of the first end members and the secondend member; whereby the elastic strap member along with the cross strapmember being secured around the leg of a wearer and the pair of firstend members and the second end member being attached to a garment indifferent positions by the plurality of detachable hose grips allowingthe garment to be secured in a desired position to obtain a neatappearance.
 17. The garment retaining apparatus of claim 16 wherein themiddle portion of the elastic strap member is placed underneath a footof the wearer.
 18. The garment retaining apparatus of claim 16 whereinthe cross strap member is movable along the length of the elastic strapmember and is placed along the elastic strap member below a knee of thewearer.
 19. The garment retaining apparatus of claim 16 wherein one ofthe pair of first end members is attached to a front portion of thegarment and the other of the pair of first end members is attached to aback portion of the garment by the plurality of detachable hose grips.20. The garment retaining apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second endmember is attached to a side portion of the garment by the plurality ofdetachable hose grips.